ARBORFIELD - Friday
21st to Sunday 23rd July 2006 inclusive.
The following report & photographs
contributed by Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A) Saturday The Drum Head Service. For me, perhaps, this service is the major part of the
weekend. Not a man of great religious beliefs, it is a time when I can
stand quietly and think of, and remember, my friends from the three
years I spent at Arborfield. I have some of those friends with
me. I have many friends with whom I am in regular contact around
the world. And in my heart I carry those friends who, alas, must
remain just a memory.
The picture tells the story. Old Boys gathered by
the Arborfield Gates, in front of the Memorial Garden which stands on
the site of the old guardroom. This small area encapsulates the place
which will continue to play such a great part in the memories of
our lives here. The band is from the Salvation Army at Earley. Perhaps the Arborfield Old Boys Collect would be
appropriate here: O God our Father, we pray for all
those who served their country, remembering especially the families of the
Arborfield Old Boys Association. Rekindle our courage to face the
future as we did in our youth. Strengthen our will to seize the moment
as we did in the past. Enliven our minds to the needs of others as
loyalty and discipline taught us. Amen.
Photo by Terry Reddin. The last post is sounded by a bugler of the Green
Jackets, the final notes fading away to be followed by a lone piper playing
Flowers of the
A quiet moment for the bugler and the Padre.
An address is given by Brigadier Nigel Williams MBE ADC
the AOBA President and an Old Boy himself. Mercifully,
consideration is given to the heat of the day and the speech is curtailed
somewhat with the reminder that his time will come again at the Reunion
Dinner in the evening. He will speak then. There was a downside. The amplification system
was a disaster. Constant breaks in sound spoilt the service and
address. We would hear two or three words, then
miss many sentences. Bearing in mind most of us served with REME.
Bearing in mind the calibre of the unit we
were staying with. Bearing in mind the overall qualifications of those
attending the service. Would it not have been prudent to test the
system before we started? Perhaps in today's world preparation is not
considered worth spending time on. With the group photo taken it was time to disperse and
make our way to the refreshments and BBQ that were waiting for us at the SEAE
Regimental Restaurant. The BBQ and
beyond. As we made our way from the service back up to Hazebrouck Barracks and the SEAE Regimental restaurant, dark clouds coming up from the South were looking very menacing. The BBQ was scheduled to be held in the open air. Oh dear! First priority was the intake of liquid refreshment to replace that lost during a very hot morning. A free bar was laid on but, for the first time in living memory, I think the soft drinks and water quaffed outstripped the alcoholic beverages consumed. As time passed, the balance would be adjusted the other way. It was a very
pleasant interlude where we were able to sit and chat about this and
that with old friends. But the weather broke and rain came down like
stair rods. With commendable efficiency the buffet had been swiftly
relocated back inside the restaurant and in due course the meal was
served. Unlike the All Things
Curried buffet on Friday night, today saw a good variety of
dishes on offer, and in generous quantities. Desserts to die for, eat
too many of them and that would be the likely outcome. If you have read
previous tales I've written then you will know that I suffer from
Arborfield Aversion Syndrome (AAS for short). It came on me at an early
age and the symptoms are that I need to spend more time outside the camp wire
than in. The pains are not quite so bad now that I only have to
leave the camp via the main gate quite openly. Mind you, that's not
half the fun it used to be when the outside world beckoned and it was a
clandestine appointment away from the camp. The camp boundaries leaked
liked a sieve and numerous were the points of departure without bothering
Uncle Fred and his merry men. Methinks things might be more difficult
today with all the razor wire, dog patrols and armed sentries to keep people
in, or strangers out. I had already come face to face with Reuben, a
large, shaggy, slavering Alsatian guard dog, kept in check by his
lady handler. Looking at the pair of them I gave Reuben strict
instructions to keep his handler on a tight lead, no point in taking
chances. Overcome by AAS it was time for me to leave camp. I felt really guilty at having to miss the AGM but I had the opportunity to visit the old friends who so kindly keep me in touch with Matters Arborfield, and who, at the moment, were looking after my wife. A very much appreciated gesture which meant she wouldn't be at home alone. Resurrecting an old Arborfield custom I took a couple of lads with me, under strict instructions to be on their best behaviour and not to reveal any indiscretions they might have observed in a past life. It was also a chance to get a cup of tea or two, a beverage in short supply at the BBQ. A very pleasant few hours were spent in Winnersh before it was time to return to base to get ready for the Reunion Dinner.
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